Hancock

The length of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, if ever completed to the Ohio River as contemplated in its first projection will be 340 miles. The work was commenced in 1828 and vigourously prosecuted until the year 1839, when it had reached Dam 6, a point 135 miles above Georgetown, but for he want of means, the work thereon so was entirely suspended, leaving locks, dams and aqueducts partially finished, banks partly formed, and the whole exposed to delapidation and ruin - and in this condition it has since remained.

The canal reached the little town of fewer than 400 residents, Hancock, in April of 1839. At the arrival of the canal mills, warehouses and stores opened in hopes of taking advantage of the new trade. P.T. Little’s store would have done business in the local area along with canal trade.

This view is from the old river bridge looking east. The building downstream from the white building along the water's edge is one of the the C&O Canal carpentry shops. The furthest building along the canal is P. T. Little’s warehouse and general store.

Shanties and warehouses often dotted the canal on both the towpath and berm side. This photograph illustrates the sometimes crowded canal area. The mules are driven in tandem with a single swing tree connected both harnesses to the towrope attached to the canal boat. When boats traveling opposite directions met the lighter boat would swing over to the berm side and unhook their mules from the tow rope. The loaded boat would stay near to the towpath and travelled over the light boat tow rope.

The water towers of the Western Maryland railroad are in the background. The man walking along the canal is possibly John Mosier (Moser). The 1880 Census lists 34 year old John Mosier as a boatman in the Indian Spring area. Twenty years later he is listed as a locktender in the Hancock District.

Hancock after 1839 was a growing community full of businesses that targeted the canal for business and transportation. The materials on the towpath were likely waiting for shipment up or down stream or could have possibly been used for the repair of canal boats that travelled up and down the waterway. The building in the foreground is thought to be a canal company carpentry shop. The building in the center background is the warehouse and store of Philip Thomas Little.

This scene is near Hancock according to Hooper Wolfe. The woman is unknown, however, 1900 - 1924 Albert (Bert) Swain was captain of Boat # 14.